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Emirates is flying more than 500 horses from Europe to the United States in the world’s largest ever commercial equine airlift.

The horses are being flown on 19 separate Emirates SkyCargo flights from Liege in Belgium to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina in readiness for this year's World Equestrian Games.

The first of the flights, which carried 67 horses from 13 countries, arrived in the US on Sunday after a flight time of almost nine hours.

“Emirates regularly carries horses on our freighter flights and we take good care to ensure the comfort of our precious cargo on-board during the flight,” said captain Esteban Pacheo in a video by the airline posted following the first of the flights.

“From a technical point of view, there aren't any significant changes. However, during the flight we carry additional personnel to look after the horses.”